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(No Model.)

W. M. SEEGER. RUBBER DAM HOLDER.

o. 604,890. v Patentd May31,1898.

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' UNITED PATENT rrrcn.

WILLIAM serene, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

RUl Bl BER- DA'M' HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION'forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 604,890, dated May 31, 1898.

' Application filedil uly 30,1897. $erla1llo. 646,461. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. SEEGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of J efierson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubber-Dam Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to dentistry, and is a holder wherewith a rubber dam can be adjusted to a tooth or teeth without the need of a head-strap to hold it in position.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure lis aperspective view of Fig. 2 is a like view, somewhat reduced, showing the rubber dam in position in the mouth of a patient. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing my holder hinged with a central pivot instead of two side pivots, as in Fig. 1.

A is an arch,- at ends of which are jointed the sides B by the pivots C, so as to allow a lateral movement of the free or lower ends of the sides. The sides are preferably curved outwardly at the middle, as shown in the drawings,so as to stand free from the patients face. Dare springs, the ends of which pass through the holes E in the arch A and the sides B, and are bent so as to hold the springs securely in place.

F are buttons formed upon the upper edge of the arch A and the rear edges of the sides B, as shown in the drawings.

7 The rubber dam is secured to the arch and sides of my holder by slipping the buttons F through holes punched near the edge of the rubber to correspond with the position of the buttons. The edge G of the rubber dam covers the tip of the patients nose, Fig. 2, and diverts his breath from the operator.

The arch A and the sides B are shaped as in the drawings, so as to be somewhat ornamental. i

In Fig. 3 H is one-half of the arch, and the side formed in one piece and pivoted to the corresponding part at I. J is a spring which holds the parts H in position. The ends of the spring J pass through the holes K and are bent so as to hold it in place. L are buttons formed upon the upper and rear edges of the parts H, by which the rubber dam is secured to the frame.

In use after the rubber is slipped upon the buttons the holder is so placed that the arch crosses the ,tip of the patients nose and its pivoted ends are at the angles of his mouth. The free ends of the sides B drop to the sides of his chin. The springs D tend to throw the free ends of the sides B toward the rami of his jaws, so that the sides will be out of the way of the operator. The rubber is now pressed on the tooth to be operated upon, and the moisture from it on the rubber will indicate where the hole is to be punched therein. When the tooth is pressed through this hole in the rubber, the holder and dam are securely held in position by the elasticity of the rubber without the need of any other attachment.

The use of the frame shown in Fig. 3 is the same as that described above. The springs D and J and the buttons F and L perform the same duties. The arch and sides may be made of thin metal, vulcanized rubber, or other suitable material. The springs D or J may be dispensed with, and the sides may be held in posit-ion by the rigidity of the pivots U or I, or, if desired, by a strap passing around the head of the patient.

Among the advantages of my invention are that patients breath is diverted from the operator; that the holder and rubber dam do not touch the patient except when the rubber presses upon his lips, tooth, and tip of nose; that a smaller piece of rubber is required than with the head-strap; that by moving the free ends of the sides B forward quite a small piece of rubber may be used, thus causing a great saving in the rubber.

I am aware that a round or angular frame provided with buttons or clamps maybe used to hold the rubber dam, but unless such frame is quite large it will be in the way of the operator. If the frame is large, there will be an unnecessary waste of rubber.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rubber-dam holder comprising an arch to pass over the face and perpendicular side and springs connecting the arch and side ex- [0 extensions or legs with attaching-buttons, tensions. means forallowing the side extensions or legs In testimony whereof I aflix my signature to be adjusted toward each other, anda spring in presence of two Witnesses. to restore the parts to their normal position.

2. Arubber-damholdercomprisingan arch VILLIAM SEEGER' provided with buttons as described, parallel Witnesses: side extensions pivotally connected at their ALICE H. BEATTIE, upper end to the arch and having buttons, JAMES XV. BEATTIE. 

